The Bulls are having a hard time overcoming their lack of star power in their loss to the Timberwolves

For the second time in a row, the Bulls were slowed down by failed defensive tasks and a lack of physicality in the team.

But mostly through star power.

After Luka Doncic ran the Bulls out of the gym in Dallas, Anthony Edwards Next, he had the Timberwolves back in the lead after a six-point deficit in the fourth quarter and handed the Bulls (3-6) their fourth straight loss, 135-119.

Just don’t try to convince the security guard Josh Giddey There is a talent shortage.

“Regardless of the personnel or who is on the field for us, our guys play hard, play right, play together, play unselfishly,” Giddey said after the recent loss when asked if there were no elite players on the roster. “When you put it all together, they are a difficult team to play against. We love what we have in this locker room, we believe we have enough and we truly believe that.

“There were times this year where we looked great. The Milwaukee game, the Orlando game, we put it together. It’s just a matter of finding a consistent balance that allows us to string together long stretches. Once we figure that out, and I don’t think we’re far off.”

What the Bulls wasted was a solid one-two punch Nikola Vucevic And Coby Whitewho scored a combined 49 points. But Edwards showed why he’s in a different class than the Bulls, hitting two huge 3-pointers midway through the final stanza that built momentum and finished the fourth with 13 of his game-high 33 points.

Not that Edwards was alone, considering the T-Wolves (5-3) scored 45 points in the quarter, once again exposing a defense searching for an identity without an opponent Alex Caruso in the mix.

“There were certain things I was definitely unhappy with,” Bulls coach said Billy Donovan said the defense. “What was disappointing was that there were opportunities to provide help and we weren’t there when we needed to be there.

“Part of it was physical. There were shots off the glass and we were moved out of the way.”

Argument for the defense

That’s what the numbers say Zach LaVine plays better defense than last season, but the sample size is small. Don’t tell Donovan.

LaVine had a defensive efficiency rating of 117.8 last year and has lowered that to 114 in six games so far this season.

“He embraced it,” Donovan said. “He really tried to play both sides. He works on both ends. Stylistically it probably helped him too because he’s just getting out in the transition phase.”

Prepare matas

The rookie scored a career-best 13 points to start the season on Wednesday in Dallas Matas Buzelis found the sledding against the T-Wolves a little rougher.

That’s expected from Donovan, who just wants the 11th overall pick to continue to get playing time but also understands what he needs to do to further his development.

“There will be strength issues at times because he is young, but he has to give it his all offensively and defensively,” Donovan said. “The other thing is he has to dominate the floor. He has to dominate the pitch in transition.

“I played with a lot more physicality [in Dallas]. When you’re as tall as him, you often don’t have to worry about being left out. But when men your size and 20 to 30 pounds more approach you, it’s best to tune out. Like it doesn’t work. There are things he learns as he goes along.”